New chapters in life

Today while I was at the gym with 2 friends of mine we began to talk. That in itself is not unusual, of course. I can talk almost anyone up a storm and back down again!! But it was the topic of our conversation that has had me thinking all day long about some things.

We women have an interesting journey to travel. I am so thankful that we were chosen to be partners with Heavenly Father in being able to bear children and be mothers. I am so thankful to be a wife, a daughter, a sister. I am grateful to be a woman. But there is another side. Because we are women and we do have the wonderful opportunity to bear children, we are very defined by them, our identities rest with them. Wrong or not, that is just the way it is. So, when our children grow up and don't "need" us as much..we become lost, trying to find ourselves amidst the settling dust of our children's lives.

Some days I feel so sad because I feel like I am not contributing in any way, anywhere. I think of going to work and that doesn't feel right. I want to be available to help my kids wherever and whenever I can. I think of going back to school AGAIN and that doesn't feel too bad except that I am old.

So my friends and I decided that once a week we are going to go out to lunch and go shopping or do some other engaging activity..I don't know if we will find one that beats shopping!! Wish us luck!

Jury Duty

An official looking letter came in the mail about a month ago. Upon opening it I quickly realized that my luck had just run out. I was being summonsed to Jury Duty for the entire month of November. Do you know the drill? You are to keep calling every night to see if they need you..inconvenient? YES!!! I was doing so well... the first week, I am not needed..the second week, I am not needed...THEN came the third week and what little luck I might have had was now completely gone! I was now needed to serve. I was nervous because this was Federal Court and upon arriving at the Court House I learned that it was a criminal case.
There were 70 perspective jurors in the meeting room. The ladies that were in charge took all of us jurors paperwork and (as the professional lady would say) would "randomize" them and come up with 50 that would proceed to the courtroom. They started their selection..1....15...30...40..45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and then, you guessed it 50 and it just so happened that 50 was ME. The guy sitting next to me started laughing because I thought I was going to get off the hook.
To make this long story short, I was not picked to be one of the 13 jurors who would bring down a sentence, but I did learn alot. I learned that there are many lost people in the world. (I know that, but I saw some real ones today) I learned that there are many people who are hurting because of loved ones choices. I learned that there are many nice people. I learned that "bad guys" don't always dress yucky and look yucky. I learned that I really like to know what is going on with people (oh, just kidding, that's not news..I am nosy) I also learned that you really have to be a person who can see both sides of any story. This story involved a man (who I saw) who was in possession of and selling cocaine. I am not sure that I could have been open-minded as I feel so strongly about drugs. It has affected my life and the lives of my family. It makes me sad and angry all at once.
So the Lord in his all knowingness did not allow me to serve that day but I hope that someday I can, because I really did like it alot!
There is that long story. I hope it wasn't too boring.

These are a few...

of my favorite things! Watching my children learn and grow with life's lessons! (sometimes that one is painful as well!!) Snuggling my adorable grand baby Titan and kissing his sweet cheeks! Sitting down at the end of the day in a clean house! A gray winter sky bulging at the seams! Soaking in a nice warm bathtub! Having a husband who I can always count on!
What are some of yours?

Jokes

Today in Seminary (I am in my 5th year of teaching) we were talking about prayer and how we should have "real"conversations with the Lord, not just quick, get-it-over-with prayers. Someone mentioned that they had a friend that would tell the Lord jokes in her prayers. (I know what you are thinking and don't worry...I was thinking the same thing...WEIRD..) Well, all of the sudden one of my students pipes in and says "I would NEVER think of telling the Lord a joke, he already knows the punch line." HA HA HA HA That was soooo funny.
I LOVE teaching Seminary and I look forward to each morning being able to spend time with the Lords chosen youth! They are keeping my young , in spirit that is...the body is definitely looking and feeling OLD!!!
Hope you got a good chuckle out of this! I know I sure did!

I am going to make this work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I moved to my little computer in hopes that it will let me download some pics of our trip. Don't say this too loud but in December Leon and I are going to take our old laptop to the desert and shoot it!! ha ha ha ha ha...shhhhhhh ...I don't want it to hear..it's going to be a surprise!!!

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH this computer isn't working either...

I am going to try again....it still isn't working. Dumb computer. Well, to finish my story of the South, it was humid and hot but we saw lots of interesting things and we met some interesting people. The fire alarm went off at 6 in the morning in Savannah GA, I broke a piece off of a lamp in Charleston and I broke a door off of the TV stand in Birmingham! And THAT is why you shouldn't take me places, even though you really should 'cuz it made for some pretty good laughs!!

Also, in Birmingham we had heard about this 250 foot iron statue called the Vulcan..the God of Iron. Well, we were going out to eat dinner (it is dark at this point) and then we thought we would visit the iron guy. We drove and drove and drove and could not figure out where the heck he was. We finally decided to drive away from where we were driving in circles and as soon as we drove out a little, Leon, as he is looking in his rear view mirror, exclaims loudly:

"There he is...... behind us"!


Ha ha ha ha we were underneath this giant the whole time but couldn't see him because there are too many trees!!!

FUN TIMES! LOTS OF MEMORIES!!

Our trip through the South AND why you shouldn't take me anywhere!!

We (Leon, Sheridan and I) went on a little adventure through the deep South. Whenever I hear DEEP South it makes me think of lots of trees and scary darkness, like when you are lost in the forrest? Well, we did get lost our fair share and there were LOTS of trees, but not really scary darkness. Here are some highlights! Notice the trees???? These were in the median. They separated traffic...weird. Here we have a few short bushes and some weeds! Oh and dirt. In the South there is green-ness eveywhere!! I know, I just made that up, but it's true! Well my computer is being a piece of poop so this is all the pictures for now. We had a great time but 10 days was a little long to live out of my suitcase...you know I did pack my closet!

Gaining and Losing

Whereas the title of this post sounds as if I am talking about weight, I am not. If that WERE the case it would only say "gaining"!!! (sad)

This is a post about kids.

This year has been a most interesting year at our casa. If you had a motion camera on our house and put it on high speed, this is what you might see:
Jordan moving in, Sheridan and Garrett moving in. Garrett moving out (to attend Basic Training for the Army). Colin moving in. Lauren and Derek and Titan moving in. Lauren and Derek and Titan moving out. Jordan moving out. We have gained some and lost some!

It has been fun to have all the kids close by and know that there is never lack of a pal to do something with! I will miss Jordan but I am so excited to hear of all his adventures at BYU-I!! YAY Jord!

One day at a time...

It is funny, isn't it? Life, that is. I have decided that the ONLY thing you can count on in life is change. Just when you think it is going one way, it goes the other. I had lunch with a friend yesterday and she said "you just never know how it is going to go. You get one fire put out another pops up, so I just take it one day at a time." I thought that was most excellent advice!
So that is what I am going to try and do. I think the benefits are abundant! Kind of like a horse with blinders on...you can only see a little bit and only right in front of you!! Actually it sounds more like a teenagers' way of thinking...THAT is a scary thought....

Happy Birthday USA!

This 4th of July has had an especially touching feel to it. Of course it is always meaningful when we celebrate the birth of this great country and the men and women who serve it (and us). However, this year we have sent a military man of our very own to serve. Sheridan's husband Garrett left us on June 29th to go into basic training for the Army. We are very proud of him. We are very proud of her. I do not pretend to understand the tremendous challenges and extreme difficulties that our military face. All I know is that I don't think that I could do it and I am so very thankful to those who do.
So, it is with grateful hearts that we thank all who have served our country in the past and those who serve our country now. THANK YOU and may the Lord bless and keep you!

Uncle Kracker...Smile

All I am going to say is that although I like the song, I do not appreciate being woke up in the wee hours of the morning with it blaring in my head. I don't know what to think of this daily song experience!

It is, however, a good message and a reminder to me of how many people I have in my life that make me smile! I could not possibly name everyone here, but I do name you in my head on a daily basis. I think of all of you who make my life more bearable by listening to my woe's, who make me laugh until I cry, who share stories of your lives with me, who are always by my side, through it all, to lift, inspire, encourage and sustain. And to all of you I say THANK YOU!

Remember to smile! And remember those who make you smile!!

She's a wild one...

Well it happened again..this is like clock work. This morning, not only did I wake myself up laughing because I was thinking about Asagio cheese, I had another song in my head. It was the country song "She's a wild one" by Faith Hill. Hmmmmm. I do not think I better analyze this one.

Let's suffice it to say that I am thinking of the freedom I will have after camp! I hope I can do a few things around this house that need to get done! I have lots of projects!

Maybe, just maybe, this will be the topic of tonight's song..however, it sounds tiring so I hope not!

Tunes

I don't know what is wrong with me..every morning now for the past 3 days I have woken up with a song in my head...and it sticks with me ALL day long. Today it was "Good morning America, how are you? Don't you know me I'm your native son..on a train they call the city of New Orleans... I'll have gone 500 miles when the day is done." Do you know that one? Now it is stuck in your head too, huh?
Maybe this one came today because in preparation for camp, which is in precisely 6 days, I have gone about 500 miles today and I think I have another 500 tomorrow!

I am going to bed now in anticipation of what I will be singing when I awake tomorrow! I hope it is something good. I wonder if I can request? James Taylor or Anne Murray please!

Good Night!

I'll pray for you

If you haven't heard that country song yet, you must listen...it is the funniest song I have heard in a long time. I know it isn't very nice but it is a hoot. Some people sure are clever. I've got a few people I'm going to start praying for...

It musn't needs be...

Well, after weeks of anticipation, we finally received the phone call that we are not moving. I was a little surprised, but I am LOTS happy! I was having a hard time thinking of leaving my family behind. Think no more cuz I will be here for a while longer.
I have had the distinct impression that our work here is not finished. I do not know what that means. I may never know, but that is what I got for now!
So, outings with my girls, Sunday dinner with all, missionary lessons with Lilly, Seminary teaching, loving friends I've met here, squeezing baby Titan and nurturing my mother- to- be (Sheridan) will continue to be part of my daily life! YAY! Life is good!

We've sprung a spring

I came into the garage just fine after Seminary and parked my little Winnie. We had a girls day planned, me and my girls. Go walk around the "big mall", eat some scrumptious lunch then go and watch the movie "babies". We would meet at Laurens house at 10 am. I packed my stuff in anticipation of the much needed get away. I got into my car and pushed my garage door opener and the door went up 3 inches then back down, then up and back down, and up again and back down again. It was a tug of war between lift or stay... Stay won. The spring on the right side had broken in half. I was a prisoner in my own garage. So instead of girls day out, it was girls day in. I had to wait for Mr. Repair Man to come and we all know how that is. But, I called Mr. Repair Man's secretary and asked her if I could go out to lunch with my girls and have him come later and she gladly agreed. I think she felt my pain at being stranded...the girls and I went to an especially delicious lunch at Ardovinos and the minute I walked in the door the phone rang and fix it man was here 5 minutes later!
Sheridan mentioned at lunch that she had been having a weird feeling about going today. Maybe we weren't supposed to follow the plan we had originally made. We all agreed that things happen for a reason... I'm going to go the garage for a little game of tug of war..this time there will be a different winner!

Tomorrows

What a gift to be able to go to bed each night knowing that tomorrow will bring with it a new day with new possibilities and opportunities! I have been extremely grateful for this gift the last couple of months. It is not a small thing. There were some days last week where I was maybe (probably) wishing that I didn't have to face a tomorrow and what it might hold. But I did face a tomorrow and then another tomorrow and they were hard and they were painful. And I have kept facing my tomorrows. A scripture keeps recounting over and over again in my head ..."there is no reward until after the trial of your faith." AFTER the TRIAL. Oh yes. AFTER. There have been dark days and sad days and teary days and angry days. I have felt the deepness of my sorrow trying to swallow me up, its gaping jaws ready and waiting for me to fall in. But I am not going to. Because I have tomorrows. I have tomorrows to trust in the Lord with all of my heart, might, mind and strength. I have tomorrows to feel His arms wrapped around me encouraging me to be strong and to be courageous. I have tomorrows to be taught lessons that I might not otherwise have learned. And I have tomorrows to love the people that love me and to enjoy warm and rich relationships with family and friends. And most of all I have tomorrows to serve those around me who may be (probably) having trials even worse than my own. What a gift to have tomorrows! I am going to make the most of them that I can!

It's raining...

.....in my heart. Being a Mom can be so hard sometimes. Logically, I KNOW that the hard things are the very things that are greatly rewarded, but sometimes that logic gets buried in the deep, dark corners of my soul.
I also understand the principle about the Lord never giving us more than we can handle. But, I sometimes wonder if He has mistaken me for someone else, because I am not handling this particular trial in my life right now, very well.
I want to shout as loud as I can "WHY ?", "WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THIS ?"
But then a warm and comfortable feeling washes over me and I KNOW why I have to do this. The Lord is counting on me. He trusts me. He knows that I will do what it takes to get through this. I am so glad that He has such confidence in me because at times I do not have it in myself and that is when I am broken and humbled, and He is able to teach me.
As the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months I wonder when and where this will all end, but that really doesn't matter. What matters is that I have a Savior who knows me and loves me and is very aware of my life. In turn, I am to do as He does and love and care and help without end.

Ellen wanted MY red purse

I love when I wake myself up laughing. It happens on occasion, I wish it would happen every morning 'cuz it makes for a good day! And this morning it was especially delicious because I woke up laughing really hard and it was already time for me to get up! Usually it is the middle of the night and I have trouble getting back to sleep 'cuz I keep laughing. (We call this condition "the simpletons"). This is what is so funny, even though it really isn't that funny. I was wandering around doing a little window shopping when all of the sudden I see Ellen in a store window dancing around and she had my red purse on her neck. I pointed at her and she pointed back at me and made a funny face and twirled around to show off the purse. Then she pointed to the purse. I pointed to the purse and she danced some more. That is when the laughing convulsions started. My body shook and then I became vocal, so I had to stick my face in my pillow. It was good because my laughing woke up the Mr. and we jumped out of bed to do the INSANITY work-out...because we are insane.

Getting back to my "roots"

That is usually a positive statement: Getting back to our roots, but today it wasn't positive at all. The roots that I am talking about are the very roots that reside inside of my back right molar, tooth #30 to be exact. Those roots had a bad experience today. I had to get a root canal.I normally have a pretty high tolerance for pain and I am not a problem patient (I have dealt with a few of those over the years) but today proved me to be a liar. It began with a shot way in the back of my mouth along the hinge of my jaw, all was going well. Then came another shot close to the same vicinity, and then finally a third in the same general area. Doc said lets let it sit for a few minutes then we will begin! I got to sport a cool pair of giant sunglasses so I don't get spattered in the eyes with...well we'll leave it at that. He comes in and tells me that we are going to begin, and if at any time I have pain to raise my hand. The assistant squirts water and blows air on my tooth, I raise my hand...oh dear it is already starting. I can feel the cold. Ok says doc, and yet another shot...this time to the inner side of that tooth. (did you keep count, this is shot #4). We begin again. He starts to drill onto the top of my tooth. I can feel slight pain but nothing unbearable, then it happened, he hit a nerve. I raised my hand. I can feel that. Ok then...this time Doc informs me that he will have to admin a shot directly into the nerve in that tooth. YIKES! He says the first one will hurt worst (first one? how many will there be? will I be numb for days???) In goes the first shot. A little hurtful. Then another and finally a third. In case you have lost count, we are at a grand total of 7! He begins to drill and poke and prod and drill some more and by now I have to go to the bathroom really bad, so I raise my hand. I mumble through the latex block on my tooth, mouth hanging as wide open as the grand canyon "I ha to go to da baroom". He was probably secretly wishing that I would somehow get flushed and disappear and never come back. Actually I was wishing the same!
After 1 1/2 hours of this, we finally finished. The doc made me feel better when he said that this was a really hard tooth to get numb on anybody. I hope that is true and that he wasn't just saying that to make me feel like less of a whimpy, but even if he was, I will take it! By 2:30 ( 5 hours later) the numbness finally began to wear off and I drank a vanilla malt and all was well with the world again!

Missionary Ants

This sounds as if it is going to be an irreverent post but it won't I promise..I guess I've just had missionaries on the brain since we have a friend who is interested in taking the discussions. She was supposed to come tonight, in fact, but canceled last minute. That's ok...little baby steps. She would make a great member of our wonderfully awesome church. She is sweet and helpful and loves to be with people. She just "fits"!
Anyway, you know the song "The ants go marching one by one..." well that is not true...at least at my house. Today I saw some ants and they were marching two by two and that is all I could think of...missionaries. These little ants have the right idea! They are always with a companion, they work HARD (ever watch those little guys move a crumb that is 3 times their size?) and they are always looking out for others. The only thing that doesn't really relate is the biting thing. I don't think that missionaries bite....unless they are hungry, of course. And that is why we feed them!
Keep a watch out for these missionary ants. You might find some in your own yard.

A ponderment about fly's

I like to ponder. It is good for a person. Today I am pondering those pesky little get-in-your-face, buzz around your head, stalk your food fly's. I leave the back door open first thing in the morning so Scooter (our kid with fur) can go do his thing while I go and do other things to get ready for Seminary. And today a fly helped himself into the house while I wasn't looking. Now, here is the ponderment (I know that isn't a word, but I am going to use it anyway): Why would a fly, who has the run of the great outdoors, with all of it's fresh air and loveliness and plenty of things to sniff and eat on, want to come inside and risk either suffocating because I have trapped him inside the window, or being swatted to death? And how is it that he found my door opening with all of the openness outside???? As I thought about that I thought of how sometimes we as human beings do the same thing. We have so much freedom and potential for happiness if we live right and be good. And yet, we sometimes go looking for that open door that leads us into a less than good or ideal situation and even sometimes a dangerous situation.
Well that is my ponderment for today. I'm going to grab my flyswatter, I hear a buzzing in the kitchen.

In the dark....

I know that describes me mentally....but this "in the dark" was for real!!! It was a dreary day which included wind and lots of clouds and just as I arrived at Kohls (to check out the deals) the heavy clouds let go of their heavy load and it began to pour...big, round drops of cool rain. I sat in my car contemplating how I was going to run as fast as I could (ha ha ha ha) and jump (ha ha ha ha) over big puddles to get into the store. As I was running IN a man was running OUT and loudly exclaimed that it was pitch black in there and they weren't letting people in. So, I ran back to my car. I decided that I would go to Albertsons as I had a list of groceries that I really needed to get so as to keep the hungry bears in my house happy (mostly me...). So I toodled over there only to discover that it was dark there too. The rain had slowed to a steady sprinkle so I ran to the front doors where people were gathered to ask if I could still shop. To my amazement, the friendly worker said "yes, come on in and shop'. That was a little weird...I kinda felt like I was being invited into a haunted house. The back up generators had kicked in so it wasn't "pitch black" but it was definitely dark.
I grabbed a cart ( a wet cart I might add) and off I went. It was eerie. You know how it is on a normal day at the grocery store...music just loud enough to help you dance around the store with your cart throwing things in there you might not otherwise buy. Well today...no music...it was very silent. Even the people that were shopping were quiet. And it was dark. I kept looking over my shoulder...I'm not even sure why...it just made me feel better. I got to the corner where the milk is located and I couldn't even see the expiration date..I had to pull out my phone and allow it's ever glowing-ness to check for me. I was almost done when I heard a roar and a thump and then the lights came back on. Clapping could be heard throughout the store. The music turned on and I danced around with my cart and got a few more things that I am sure I didn't need.

I looked out the window.....

and what did I see? SPRING!!!!! This is such a lovely time of year! It brings peace to my soul! Here are some of the wonders happening at my house...



Ok so I really don't know how to work putting pictures on here yet, so this is what I am left with! I had a few more but I can't seem to make it go!

I am so thankful for the beauty that surrounds me! I could make a big list of all of the wonderful-ness that I see but it would take too long and take up lots of space on my blog and I have to go make dinner for the missionaries! Don't forget to take time to ponder to beauty that surrounds you and look for all of the greatness that the Lord has blessed us with!

Cloudy with a chance of L and J

I LOVE clouds so much! They make me feel cozy and comfortable (maybe those are synonyms for LAZY!!!!). I like the way the blanket of gray makes me feel like I am being wrapped in a big fuzzy wubbie. My wubbie is a whole other story and don't ask Leon about it...we HAVE to take it on every trip that we go on or I don't sleep good. Well that is for another time....
So today on this glorious cloudy day while I am feeling so comfortable I am also feeling like it might just be time for a delicious plate of tacos at the L and J, a great little diner in central El Paso. (Leon and I like to pretend that they used our initials to name the place so that gives us the right to eat there so often...) Anyway, they have the most delightful tacos I have ever sunk my teeth into. Addicting of sorts. At least once a week we venture to the other side of town to engage our taste buds in an explosion of red and green deliciousness! I shouldn't spread the word about them because it is already so crowded with others, just like us, who can't keep their teeth off the wonderful food. But, I like to share ( well, not my food...just information) !
Grab the umbrella, let's go!

Rock in my shoe

Yesterday I was out walking up and down some ferocious hills trying to get my daily dose of being outside (which I LOVE) and exercising (which I DON'T love, but find it a necessary evil..). I was being bathed in sunshine and the smell of fresh air, like after a rain, the beautiful red and yellow and purple flowers saying hello to spring, and the grass trying to awaken his green blades. I was basking in the beauty that this time of year brings when all of the sudden I felt a rock in the bottom of my shoe, which caused me to think about how life is sometimes just like that...a rock in my shoe. One minute all is comfortable and blissful and then the next minute there is uncomfortable I have to deal with. The Lord wants us to be happy and full of joy but I am pretty sure that He said nothing about being comfortable. I am surrounded by bounteous blessings and beauty, the task is not to lose sight of that while that rock is in the bottom of my shoe!

Our mailbox

We have one of those kind you have to hike to that has the entire neighborhoods mail slots in it. A locked mail house of sorts. I don't mind. And Scooter LOVES to go with me to get the mail. But this is not the mailbox that I am going to speak of. This story starts with Valentines Day and a clearance item (from Target, of course). I found a red foam mailbox with a FLAG that you lift up when there is mail..well for 50 cents I couldn't help myself. Here is what I thought about. Love notes. I would pen a note to my sweetheart, open the door of the mailbox, put the note in and lift the flag, then I would slide it to his side of the dresser so he knew that he had mail. Then he would pen me a sweet note and back and forth it would go. We've had fun sliding the mailbox back and forth across our dresser. I feel like a gooey teenager again eagerly anticipating a "letter" from the one I love!
I wish I could share with you an example of one of our notes, but as we all know, mail is private!

Do you ever feel.....

disappointed? I mean, we all feel it sometimes, I realize, but this was different. Today I went to Las Cruces with Lauren and baby Titan to see my niece Myka who was there for FFA. Now, when we go to Las Cruces we usually eat at Dions (did you hear the music playing as I said that name???? It was heavenly music because that is what their food is...) . Well today was a little different because Myka was staying on the complete opposite side of town to in comparison to where Dions (again , heavenly sounds) is located. So, we made a judgment call (a bad one in hind sight) to go to Blakes Lotaburger, a New Mexico local and favorite hamburger "joint"! I did have my mouth watering for a good green chili cheeseburger dripping with yum and a large Dr Pepper, a sin, I know, with their delectable crushed ice! I guess somewhere in the far and dark corners of my small mind I always have the taste of Dions so nothing really does compare, but I thought I would try. My order was up...a green chili cheeseburger with a soggy bun, too many onions and MUSTARD. Eeeewww the grossest of gross for a hamburger to have mustard, mustard belongs only on hot dogs. So my palate is saddened and disappointed.
Well i know that isn't the worst disappointment in life, really I do, but you can rest assured ( I guess I am talking to my palate) that I will only let the heavenly Dions touch my tongue next time. I promise. In fact, I am planning my next trip right now.

Chance Meeting?

Today I went to one of my favorite spots in the whole world...Target. Actually, it is more than just one of my favorite spots, it is an addiction, I mean really, who doesn't love Target? However, today I was there on a mission of sorts. I need a sun shade for my car. As I passed by an end cap (where ALL of the good bargains are found at Target) I saw a man standing looking at some of the above mentioned "bargains", but I didn't need what was there so I just kept on walking UNTIL I heard him say "you should get one of these weather stations, they work". This man was standing there, dressed in Navy blue pants, Navy blue workout jacket and carrying a backpack on his back. He was also sporting ear buds, I don't know if they were to aid him in his hearing or if it was a IPOD of sorts. He had a greyish white beard and greyish white hair and was wearing glasses. I stopped to talk with him and as I looked into his eyes I felt the most wonderful kind feeling for and about him. We chatted about the weather and he said that he had heard it had been very windy. I commented that it was going to be another windy week. He replied that he should leave town before it got bad. I asked him where he was going and he shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't quite know yet". The kindness poured out of his soul through his eyes and I felt such a warmth coming from him. I wished him luck and safety on his journeys. We ended the conversation and I walked a few steps forward then I turned to see where he was going. GONE. He was already gone. As I walked around I wondered about him. There was just something there. I got to the front to check out and there he was, just standing, looking calm. I looked his way, he nodded his head and then slowly made his way out to the front doors. I was not far behind him and when I got to the parking lot he was GONE again.
Now, this story may seem strange to you, and it is actually a little strange to me, but I am so thankful that I stopped to have a conversation with him. I have never had something like that happen to me before, and it has me wondering. Who did I just meet?
Well that is my story for today...P.S. I don't beleive in chance meetings...EVER.

Life is not for whimps...

I know that I raised my hand when my Heavenly Father asked me if I wanted to come to earth and have a body and experience "life'. I even think that He went so far as to show me some of the types of trials that I might encounter and have to endure. Still, I voted YES. I agreed to the plan. But now I am beginning towonder if I am just a whimp...
Here I am 44 years later somedays wondering why it was that I did that. I sometimes think that maybe I was behaving like I did in the 4th grade, always chattering with my neighbors... so much so that my teacher, Mr Silva, had to send notes home to my Mom that read "Jennifer is a sweet girl but she talks too much". That's it! I wasn't listening, I was too busy talking to my neighbor! Sounds like it could be true, but I don't think that is how it went.
So I was talking to my best friend (really a sister separated at birth...no, not really) and she said "Jenn we should look at it as a compliment from Heavenly Father that he trusts us enough (she says "us" cuz she is having trials too, she also raised her hand!) with his children to have these trials with them." Ok, I suppose so. Afterall, I did raise my hand and that meant that I promised I would do whatever it took to raise his children the best that I know how, with His help, of course. So that is what I am trying to do. So for now I will keep repeating to myself, I am not a whimp, I am not a whimp, I am not a whimp.. until it finally sticks. (Maybe I should go write it repeatedly on a chalkboard like we had to do in grade school..well I never had to......did you?)
For now, I am going to find some chocolate which always makes things better...always!

It's already over?????

I'm not sure that I already went on vacation...it went too fast. Darn. I don't want to be back home yet...just a few more days...oh well, here I am...and here are some highlights of our trip!




Driving (and driving and driving) along in the hill country of Texas








This is some of the weather we had to deal with!!! It was great!


Oh and the one place you HAVE to eat at when in San Antonio (and soon Albuquerque..YAY) is Freddy's...mmmmmmmm good!! Juicy cheeseburgers, crispy skinny fries and the best frozen custard ever!








We got to see the Temple..it's colorful and big windows beckon to all to come and see it's beauty!









Well, I couldn't make this pic go the right way (surprise)! But you do know that we were in the heart of German town and so we had to eat German food, bratwurst, schnitzel and smoked sausage YUMMY! Yes I did gain a few while on this trip!!



Saw Shamu show....one of the whales just had a baby after 17 months of pregnancy, and her baby weighed 350 pounds WOW!










Saw a 4-D pirate show that about made me wet my pants...well it did wet my pants cuz stuff kept spraying us from the backs of the seats in front of us...oooo it was funny, and kinda jumpy!!!





I don't know if you can see this very well but it is a turtle basking in the sun ON TOP of an alligators nose......isn't there a life lesson about this???!!!






We located mall on the map and when we got to the place the map directed us to the mall was no longer...I guess it was taken up....OH NO! So here is Leon questioning his scouting skills...consulting the map (that was wrong by the way...we decided it was a conspiracy on the part of the rental car company to make us use more gas and put more mileage on the car ....)!!!





We had a blast just being alone together (that sounds funny)! Vacations are the best! Oh, and I did get some reading in too!!!

I hope that you all can take a relaxing vacation sometime soon too!!

Go...go away...read some books....

Ok, that is exactly what I am going to do, thanks Nacho Libre for the idea!!! (hopefully you have seen the movie and remember that line, if not...well, sorry that I have confused you...but, if you haven't see the movie, you should... you will get a good chuckle from it!!) Leon and I are going to escape from "life" for a few days and I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I think it has been a really long time since we have gotten away alone. Leon sent a loving text to me yesterday telling me how much he loved me and reminding me that we were only 2 days away from the adventure (as if I needed a reminder, there are post-it's all over my house counting down) and I should make a list of all the stuff I wanted to do. I think that this is what my reply looked like: read, eat, shop, eat, read, shop, get a massage, read, eat, nap, sea world (a must) read, eat, and hopefully see all the beautiful flowers that must be blooming this time of year. Was that too much to ask? Oh and I am NOT answering my phone! As much as I love all of you, I am turning all of my attention to my sweetie... oh yes and, of course, to my book!
I am so thankful to have a sweet husband who wants to take me places and have adventures! So off we go, with our books in hand (he took Nacho's suggestion too!!). In case you are wondering, I am reading "The Parting" by Beverly Lewis. She is a most excellent author. She lived the amish lifestyle growing up and her books are based on that same lifestye and culture, very fascinating.

Wisdom from Chocolate...really

I LOVE quotes and sayings. My scriptures are rupturing at the seams because I have so many "glue-ins" from teaching seminary. When I was younger I would cover the sunshiny yellow walls in my room with quotes, to serve as a paper path to enlightenment and happiness!! Back then I would make my own little signs (using others' wisdom of course, not my 16 year old wisdom..oh that is an oxymoron) with construction paper, markers and stickers! Nowadays, wisdom comes wrapped up in a Dove Chocolate..who wudda known? And boy was I happy the other day, while having one of "those days", when I reached into the candy bowl pulled out a luscious chocolate and unwrapped its milky goodness and...it said "After the rain, comes the rainbow". Perfect. Just what I needed to hear! So, after all these years of making my own signs, I can now turn to chocolate to get the best of both worlds...lusciousness AND wisdom all in one package!
Here is one that I found today: "Rejoice in your daily achievements"....very wise! Enough wisdom for today!

Run like the....wind

Why does the wind always have to blow? The wind gives me a complex...not a good one. So yesterday I decided that it was time to try and shed some of these extra pounds that I carry around. (This really does have to do with the wind...I promise) So, what to do?? I invested in "the firm"...I do like the workouts but I really lOVE to be outside. Walking is great but just doesn't burn the calories that I would like. I decided that maybe I should take up running. Well, more like jogging. And that is exactly what I did. So today I embarked on the adventure again only this time with different external circumstances...the wind. An angry wind....probably a north wind...with cheeks full of cold air that he blew ruthlessly in my face. I struggled down the hill with his biting bellows and then...I turned the corner. I no longer had a head wind but now a tail wind. I was getting help along my way! So as I was getting pushed along I thought about how lately the trials have rained down upon our family and I feel sometimes as if I am fighting a head wind. And then, just as I think that I cannot handle anymore I get a tailwind and the Lord pushes me along ! I am greatful for the tailwind of course that I can use to kind of "coast" when I can't run anymore. BUT I am also thankful for the headwind that allows me to become stronger and teaches me to appreciate the times when life isn't so "in my face"!! So, here's to the wind, whichever way it may blow!

The name is Grammie...

On January 7th Lauren and Derek were blessed with a beautiful baby boy named Titan...well they named him Titan..he didn't come out with that tattooed on his forehead..anyway...he is such a sweet little boy! I cannot keep my hands off him. I wasn't sure that I liked the name Grandma because I am vain and I guess I feel like I am not old enough to be one yet ( even though I really am...don't tell anyone). SO here I am with the title "Grammie"! Truth is though I would even answer to Grandma, I bet it is the sweetest sound around when it comes from little lips!!!
I was able to be in the room with her while she gave birth and what an amazing experience. It's not that I don't know how babies are born and all, really I do, but I didn't have mine the way normal people do as they were all c-sections so I was completely amazed and in awe at the whole experience!
Thank you to Lauren and Derek for being such sweet parents! I love you and boy do I love little baby T!!!!